Habitat
for Humanity of Montgomery County is delighted to welcome you as a
volunteer. Habitat for Humanity was
founded as an ecumenical Christian mission.
We welcome EVERYONE who is dedicated to providing simple, decent housing
“for all of God’s people in need.” We
are proud of our accomplishments and look forward to completing additional
homes in the
To keep
our construction schedule on track, we must know in advance how many volunteers
are going to be with us on each volunteer day. Please do not come to the worksite unexpectedly or fail to come when
you have been scheduled!
For
safety and efficiency, we must limit the number of volunteers at each site.
This number will vary depending upon how many sites we are currently working
on, nature of work in progress and available tools, materials, and
supervision. This means that if you are
part of a large group, it may be impossible to have you all working on one
house. Please understand this is necessary in order to keep your group safe,
and ensure the quality of your volunteer experience.
ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE
Please plan to be on site by 8:30 a.m.
There will be a brief orientation session for new and returning volunteers
during which information about Habitat and safety guidelines will be
reviewed.
The workday ends at approximately 3:30 p.m. and will be preceded by a
clean-up period. Please stay to
participate in clean up. If you must leave early, please inform the site
supervisor upon your arrival. This will
insure that he/she does not assign you to a job they expect will take the whole
day, or spend time teaching you how to do something that you will not have time
to finish. Please keep in mind that leaving early does not excuse you from the
obligation to clean up and put away tools you have been using.
LUNCH
INFORMATION
Volunteers break for lunch at 11:30 a.m. This time
out during the day gives volunteers an opportunity to interact with each other,
HFHMC regulars and staff, and our partner families.
HFHMC
does not provide lunch for volunteers. Groups
are encouraged to decide their lunch plans in advance. Volunteers planning a
group lunch should select one person to be responsible for ordering/picking up
lunch. For restaurant suggestions, contact the volunteer coordinator.
WHAT TO
WEAR/WHAT TO BRING
Dress appropriately for the work site. Wear
hard-soled shoes and clothing geared to the weather. You may be working inside or outside.
Dust and dirt can’t be avoided; wear items which
are easily cleaned. Leave jewelry at
home: necklaces, bracelets and earrings are a hazard in work areas.
We
can provide you with work gloves, disposable dust masks, safety glasses, and
hard hats. However, feel free to bring
your own if you have them.
While
we have most tools, there are certain items that most everyone can bring. If you prefer, you can bring the following
with you:
·
Pencil (regular or carpenter’s)
·
Hammer (rip or curved claw)
·
Measuring Tool (tape measure/folding rule)
· Utility Knife (retractable safest/extra blades)
WORK SITE GUIDELINES
In accordance with
Please be
considerate of the diversity of our volunteers.
Be mindful of language and behavior that may offend others on the basis
of gender, age, culture, race, religion, disability or sexual orientation.
In addition, job site safety and
efficiency may require the site supervisor to regulate:
·
Music Volume (we discourage radios, etc)
·
Smoking (never permitted in the houses)
·
Gathering in Congested Work Areas
·
Horseplay
Alcohol, drug use and
offensive language are not permitted on Habitat premises. Smoking is allowed in designated areas only.
Be aware that HFHMC is
rebuilding the neighborhood as well as this particular house. It is important that we behave in ways that
show respect for our neighbors. We ask
you to be careful about making a mess outside, about leaving trash and lunch
debris on the sidewalk, about sitting on the neighbors’ property or leaning against
their vehicles.
Know the location of exits,
fire extinguishers, first aid kit(s) and who can help, phone and emergency
numbers, water supply, bathrooms, etc.
Inform the site supervisor
of any special health conditions or other limitations you may have. We do not provide medical insurance for
volunteers. If you are injured on the
job site, any expenses incurred are the responsibility of your personal health
coverage.
Do not move material or
other debris without making sure your path is clear. Do not throw material down
stairs, out windows or into ductwork or toilets without getting approval and
checking for others who might be harmed.
Wash your hands before
eating or attempting to remove foreign particles for your eyes or mouth, some
construction materials are quite dangerous.
Do not use power tools
without supervision or instruction in proper use. Return all tools you have
borrowed. Clean tools that require
it; report broken tools or those that you deem in need of sharpening, replacement
or maintenance.
Inform yourself of the
proper technique for lifting heavy objects.
Wear a hard hat, particularly if people are working above you, or if
demolition work is in progress.
Please respect ladders,
scaffolding, etc. If you are afraid of
heights, please let us know.
Pace yourself. Keep in mind that enthusiasm is likely to
overtake you on your first day out. Rest if you need to, drink water. If you are resting or idle, please do so in
an area that is safe and is not a hindrance to others.